The participation of Muslim Thais in selecting the Islamic Spiritual Leaders first started in 1948 with chairs of Provincial Islam Council nationwide directly involved in the selection process. The 1997 Act on Islam Organization Administration stipulates that mosque council members select a mosque imam, the imams then select members of Provincial Islamic Council, and the council members, in turn, select the Islamic Spiritual Leader. The selection in 1997 was in line with the intention of Muslims nationwide because the selection process was in accordance with Islamic principles, correct, fair and acceptable to Muslims. However, the selections in 1948, 1987 and 1997 had a familiar problem. That is, when the position was vacant, there was no law specifying the selection criteria and methods or individuals or groups of individuals to participate in the selection process. As a consequence, the Ministry of Interior solved the problem by specifying criteria and processes in selecting the spiritual leader in 1948. Representatives from concerned agencies, mamely Department of Provincial Administration and Department of Religious Affairs, were invited to share their ideas on the criteria and processes for the 1981 selection. Those from Department of Provincial Administration, Department of Religious Affairs and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand were invited to share their ideas on the criteria and processes for the 1997 selection.